Steve Meilinger Named To College Football Hall Of Fame

The National Football Federation announced that Steve Meilinger has been named to the College Football Hall of Fame. Meilinger played three seasons at Kentucky under Bear Bryant.

He was a two-year first-team All-American and was known as “Mr. Anywhere” because of his versatility on the football field. Meilinger split time between end, halfback and quarterback on offense; end, linebacker and defensive back on defense; and punter, punt returner and kick returner on special teams.

After graduating UK, Meilinger was selected in the first round (eighth pick) of the NFL draft, but he went into the U.S. Army for two years. When he returned to the football field, he spent six years in the league with three teams, Washington, Green Bay and Pittsburgh. While with the Green Bay Packers, Meilinger played in the NFL Championship Game for coach Vince Lombardi. In that game, the Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles by four points.

After his playing days were done, Meilinger became a U.S. Marshal and was one of the original six marshals who founded the Federal Witness Protection Program. He eventually became Chief Deputy of the Eastern District of Kentucky. Now retired, Meilinger lives in Lexington and still supports Kentucky.

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